Beverage can protective cover

ABSTRACT

A rotational one-piece beverage can protective cover is disclosed. The beverage can protective cover is capable of being snapped on or off of a correspondingly sized beverage can top and of being rotated to open or close the drink hole of a beverage can.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The technology described herein relates generally to protective coversfor beverage containers, and more particularly to a snap-on rotaryprotective top cover or attachment for a conventional beverage can.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Beverage cans are well known in the art. Soft drinks, beer, fruit andvegetable juices are commonly packaged in such cans. However, none ofthem provide a protective cover from the manufacturer to protect theconsumers from possible contamination. In fact, the conventionalbeverage can suffers several disadvantages.

One disadvantage is that a conventional beverage can lacks a closingmechanism once it is opened. Ants, flies, bees, and wasps seemespecially attracted to open beverage containers, and can be a nuisanceas well as a serious health hazard for persons allergic to insectstings. Wind-blown dust, dirt and debris may also contaminate the drink,especially when the user is outdoors.

Related art that addresses these and other problems includes thefollowing patents.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,213,238, issued to Martin et al. on May 25, 1993,discloses a multi-functional, environmentally-oriented one-piececontainer closure panel has a peripheral rib adapted to removably engagethe lip of a container end. The closure panel is slidably rotatable onthe lip such that an opening in the closure panel may be variablypositioned in alignment with a push-in opening in the container end tocontrol the dispensing of container contents. When removed, theone-piece container closure may be disposed of separately, allowingrecycling of reusable container materials or disposal of biodegradablecontainer materials. Because disposed of separately, the containerclosure may be of any suitable material appropriate for the application,while different reusable or biodegradable materials may be used for thecontainer.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,290,084, issued to Louie on Sep. 18, 2001, discloses arotatable circular beverage can rim cover having an up-standingloop-shaped outer periphery configured to receive and snap over a raisedcircular edge of a beverage can. The protective cover serves two mainpurposes. It is intended to provide a sanitary covering means and toprevent contaminating objects from entering the can after opening. Thecover has a circular depressed planar area that has a detachablepull-ring segment assembly covering the punch key portion of a beveragecan. Upon the removal of the section by pulling and removing thepull-ring assembly, the protective cover creates an opening throughwhich the contents of the beverage container can be consumed. Theremaining section of the protective cover can be rotated between anopened or closed position to all consumption of the soft drink when inan opened position, and to cover the container's opening to preventinsects and other contaminants from penetrating the beverage can when inthe closed position. The protective cover also provides an inclininghill-shaped projection to assist in lifting the underside of the punchkey to an altitude that allows operator to safely lift the punch key inopening process.

While these patents and other previous methods have attempted to solvethe problems that they addressed, none have utilized or disclosed aneconomical, easy to install, easy to use beverage can protective cover,as does embodiments of the technology described herein.

Therefore, a need exists for a beverage can protective cover with theseattributes and functionalities. The beverage can protective coveraccording to embodiments of the invention substantially departs from theconventional concepts and designs of the prior art. It can beappreciated that there exists a continuing need for a new and improvedbeverage can protective cover which can be used commercially. In thisregard, the technology described herein substantially fulfills theseobjectives.

The foregoing patent and other information reflect the state of the artof which the inventors are aware and are tendered with a view towarddischarging the inventors' acknowledged duty of candor in disclosinginformation that may be pertinent to the patentability of the technologydescribed herein. It is respectfully stipulated, however, that theforegoing patent and other information do not teach or render obvious,singly or when considered in combination, the inventors' claimedinvention.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The technology described herein overcomes the limitations anddifficulties mentioned above with respect to prior art devices byproviding a protective cover for beverage cans which is more convenient,versatile, and more efficient than such prior art devices. The beveragecan protective cover comprises a circular-segment plate designed toslide underneath the pull tab of a beverage can. The protective coveralso provides a raised peripheral rim to be coupled with the up-standingridge of a beverage can, in such a way that the semi-circulardish-shaped cover can be axially rotated along with the raised circularedge of a corresponding beverage can. By rotating along the up-standingperipheral rim of the can, the cover thus functions as a rotary door toprovide opened and closed positions for the beverage can's opening. Thisrotation is aided by a rotational grip, e.g. a tab ear, disposed onsubstantially the middle of a continuous lip, i.e., the raisedperipheral rim, which engages the raised circular edge of the can.

According to the technology described herein the rotary protective coveris generally manufactured of one-piece thermoplastic-formed plastic,which can be directly pressed onto the top of a beverage can by aconsumer.

In one embodiment of the technology described herein a semi-circularramp is formed on the top of the beverage can protective cover. Thisramp facilitates pushing the beverage can pull tab upwards away from thecan when the beverage can protective cover is rotated underneath thebeverage can pull tab. This ramp extends from the left edge to the rightedge of the beverage can protective cover. The height of the ramp ishighest at the midpoint of the ramp and lowest at the left and rightedge of the beverage can protector.

One aspect of the technology described herein is to provide a protectiveclosure to cover the drinking area for sanitary means.

Another aspect of the technology described herein is to provide aprotective closure that functions as a rotary door. In an openedposition, the protective cover allows one to consume the contents insidethe beverage can. In a closed position, the protective cover covers theopening of the beverage can to prevent insects or other forms ofexternal contamination from entering the interior of the can.

Another aspect of the technology described herein is to provide aprotective closure that facilitates the user engaging the beverage canpull tab.

Another aspect of the technology described herein is to provide aprotective closure that can be easily rotated by hand.

Another aspect of the technology described herein is to provide aone-piece constructed protective cover of the beverage can that can bemanufactured inexpensively.

Another aspect of the technology described herein is that it can beeasily pressed or snapped onto the top of a conventional beverage by auser.

Still another aspect of the technology described herein is to create anovel and efficient location for display of advertising, where a messagecan be easily viewed.

Other aspects, objects, advantages and capabilities of the invention areapparent from the following description taken in conjunction with theaccompanying drawings showing a preferred embodiment of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention, together with further advantages thereof, may best beunderstood by reference to the following description of the simplestform of the invention, taken in conjunction with the accompanyingdrawings in which:

FIG. 1 illustrates a top perspective view of a beverage can protectivecover installed on the top of a beverage can and positioned away fromthe can tab, according to an embodiment of the technology describedherein.

FIG. 1A illustrates a top perspective view of a beverage can protectivecover having a beverage can tab ramp, installed on the top of a beveragecan and positioned away from the can tab, according to an embodiment ofthe technology described herein.

FIG. 2 illustrates a top perspective view of a beverage can protectivecover, according to an embodiment of the technology described herein.

FIG. 2A illustrates a top perspective view of a beverage can protectivecover having a beverage can tab ramp, according to an embodiment of thetechnology described herein.

FIG. 3 illustrates a top perspective view of a beverage can protectivecover, according to a second embodiment of the technology describedherein.

FIG. 4 illustrates a top perspective view of a beverage can protectivecover installed on the top of a beverage can and positioned over the canopening, according to a second embodiment of the technology describedherein.

FIG. 5 illustrates a top perspective view of a beverage can protectivecover partially engaging the pull tab, according to a third embodimentof the technology described herein.

FIG. 6 illustrates a top perspective view of a beverage can protectivecover, installed on the top of a beverage can and positioned over thecan opening, according to a third embodiment of the technology describedherein.

FIG. 7 illustrates a top perspective view of a beverage can protectivecover, according to a third embodiment of the technology describedherein.

FIG. 8 illustrates a top plan view of a beverage can protective cover,according to a third embodiment of the technology described herein.

FIG. 9 illustrates a bottom plan view of a beverage can protectivecover, according to a third embodiment of the technology describedherein.

FIG. 10 illustrates a front plan view of a beverage can protectivecover, according to a third embodiment of the technology describedherein.

FIG. 11 illustrates a rear plan view of a beverage can protective cover,according to a third embodiment of the technology described herein.

FIG. 12 illustrates a left rear perspective view of a beverage canprotective cover, according to a fourth embodiment of the technologydescribed herein.

FIG. 13 illustrates a right rear perspective view of a beverage canprotective cover, according to a fourth embodiment of the technologydescribed herein.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The technology described herein will now be described in detail withreference to at least one preferred embodiment thereof as illustrated inthe accompanying drawings. In the following description, numerousspecific details are set forth in order to provide a thoroughunderstanding of the technology described herein. It will be apparent,however, to one skilled in the art, that the technology described hereinmay be practiced without some or all of these specific details. In otherinstances, well known operations have not been described in detail sonot to unnecessarily obscure the technology described herein.

Referring to the drawings wherein like reference numerals designatecorresponding parts throughout the several figures, reference is madefirst to FIG. 1-4 that illustrates a beverage can protective cover 1 00.In one embodiment the beverage can protective cover 100 is comprised ofa base 110 having a continuous rim 120 disposed at the outside perimeterof the beverage can protective cover 100. The rim 120 is furthercomprised of a wall 121 that is formed to join the base 110 to the rim120. The rim 120 is further comprised of an arc 122 dimensioned to fiton the top of a beverage can. The rim 120 is further comprised of a lip123 disposed at the bottom edge of the rim 120 to hold the beverage canprotective cover 100 securely to the top of a beverage can once thebeverage can protective cover 100 is snapped onto the top of a beveragecan.

The base 110 is formed to have a left feathered edge 130 and a rightfeathered edge 140. The base 110 has a semi-circular inside perimeter150 located between the inside end of the left feathered edge 130 andthe inside end of the right feathered edge 140.

The beverage can protective cover 100 is further comprised of a tab ear160 (rotational grip) formed on the outside of the continuous rim 120and located substantially equidistant from each end of the continuousrim 120.

In an exemplary embodiment of the beverage can protective cover 100 asemi-circular ramp 170 is formed a short distance from the semi-circularinside perimeter 150 and substantially parallel to the semi-circularinside perimeter 150. The semi-circular ramp 170 is higher at itsmidpoint than at its distal end or its proximal end.

FIGS. 3-13 illustrate other embodiments of the technology describedherein.

To use the technology described herein a beverage can protective coveris snapped into place onto a corresponding beverage can. The beveragecan protective cover may then be rotated using an ear tab or similarstructure to partially lift the beverage can pull tab. Once the beveragecan pull tab is sufficiently pivoted to open the drink hole of thebeverage can the beverage cab protective cover may then be rotated toalternately cover or uncover the beverage can drink hole as needed.

-   -   Another way of illustrating the technology described herein is        as follows. A one-piece protective cover capable of rotatably        engaging a beverage can top, comprising a base having a top        surface and a bottom surface; an outside rim having a first left        side, a first right side, an outer wall and an inner wall; an        inside rim having a second left side and a second right side; a        wall connecting the base to the outside rim between the first        left side and the first right side; a left edge connecting the        first left side to the second left side; a right edge connecting        the first right side to the second right side; and a rotational        grip, where the rotational grip is formed on the outside rim.        The protective cover further comprises a semi-circular ramp        formed on the top surface between the inside rim and the outside        rim and having a left end, a mid-section and a right end, where        the mid-section is higher than the left end or the right end and        the left end and the right end have the same height, the left        edge and the right edge are feathered edges. The outside rim may        be a continuous, i.e. unbroken, or a non-continuous rim. The        rotational grip, e.g. ear pull, may be formed on the inner wall,        the outer wall or on top of the outside rim. The rotational grip        may be located substantially equidistant from the left and right        side of the outside rim.

The foregoing description and drawings comprise illustrative embodimentsof the technology described herein. Having thus described exemplaryembodiments of the technology described herein, it should be noted bythose skilled in the art that the within disclosures are exemplary only,and that various other alternatives, adaptations and modifications maybe made within the scope of the technology described herein. Merelylisting or numbering the steps of a method in a certain order does notconstitute any limitation on the order of the steps of that method. Manymodifications and other embodiments of the invention will come to mindto one skilled in the art to which this invention pertains having thebenefit of the teachings presented in the foregoing description and theassociated drawings. Although specific terms may be employed herein,they are used in a generic and descriptive sense only and not forpurposes of limitation. Accordingly, the technology described herein isnot limited to the specific embodiments illustrated herein, but islimited only by the following claims.

1. A one-piece protective cover capable of rotatably engaging a beveragecan top, comprising a base having a top surface and a bottom surface; anoutside rim having a first left side, a first right side, an outer walland an inner wall; an inside rim having a second left side and a secondright side; a wall connecting the base to the outside rim between thefirst left side and the first right side; a left edge connecting thefirst left side to the second left side; a right edge connecting thefirst right side to the second right side; and a rotational grip,wherein the rotational grip is formed on the outside rim.
 2. Theprotective cover according to claim 1, further comprising asemi-circular ramp formed on the top surface between the inside rim andthe outside rim and having a left end, a mid-section and a right end. 3.The protective cover according to claim 2, wherein the mid-section ishigher than the left end or the right end.
 4. The protective coveraccording to claim 3, wherein the left end and the right end have thesame height.
 5. The protective cover according to claim 1, wherein theleft edge is a feathered edge.
 6. The protective cover according toclaim 5, wherein the right edge is a feathered edge.
 7. The protectivecover according to claim 1, wherein the outside rim is a continuous rim.8. The protective cover according to claim 1, wherein the outside rim isa non-continuous rim.
 9. The protective cover according to claim 1,wherein the rotational grip is formed on the outer wall.
 10. Theprotective cover according to claim 9, wherein the rotational grip isformed substantially equidistant from the first left side and the firstright side.
 11. The protective cover according to claim 1, wherein therotational grip is form on the inner wall.
 12. The protective coveraccording to claim 11, wherein the rotational grip is formedsubstantially equidistant from the first left side and the first rightside.
 13. A method of using the protective cover of claim 1, comprising:snapping into place the protective cover onto a correspondingly sizedbeverage can; rotating the beverage can cover using the rotational gripin order to partially lift a beverage can pull tab; pulling the beveragecan pull tab to form a beverage can drink hole; rotating the beveragecan protective cover to close the beverage can drink hole; rotating thebeverage can protective cover to open the beverage can drink hole. 14.The method of claim 13, further comprising: removing the beverage canprotective cover from the beverage can.
 15. A one-piece protective covercapable of rotatably engaging a beverage can top, comprising a basehaving a top surface and a bottom surface; an outside rim having a firstleft side, a first right side, an outer wall and an inner wall; aninside rim having a second left side and a second right side; a wallconnecting the base to the outside rim between the first left side andthe first right side; a left edge connecting the first left side to thesecond left side; a right edge connecting the first right side to thesecond right side; a semi-circular ramp formed on the top surfacebetween the inside rim and the outside rim and having a left end, amid-section and a right end; and a rotational grip, wherein therotational grip is formed on the outside rim, the mid-section is higherthan the left end or the right end, the left end and the right end havethe same height, the left edge is a feathered edge, the right edge is afeathered edge, the outside rim is a continuous rim, and the rotationalgrip is formed on the outer wall substantially equidistant from thefirst left side and the first right side.
 16. The protective cover ofclaim 15, further comprising advertising information disposed on the topsurface.